What is Yaoi?

Yaoi (also known as Boys’ Love or BL) is a Japanese genre of fictional media focusing on romantic or sexual relationships between male characters, typically marketed for a female audience and usually created by female authors. Its female equivalent is Yuri, and like Yuri, it centers around the concept of homoeroticism — a romantic or sexual relationship between two persons of the same gender. It often follows a particular narrative or storyline, but that’s not always the case.

Yaoi has become increasingly popular in the West over the last few years, thanks in part to anime series and movies based on yaoi works. Yaoi ranges from the innocent and lighthearted, to the more explicit and sexual. Yaoi is also commonly referred to as Boys’ Love (or BL) and is typically seen as being a more masculine form of Yuri — girls’ love.

Types of Yaoi

Yaoi can be divided into two main categories: shōnen ai, also known as male-male romance, and shotacon, a type of art which features much younger characters. While the two genres are related they are held apart by the key factor of age. Shonen-ai focuses on older characters who are young adults, while shotacon features much younger children who are often sexualized in some way, be it physical or psychological. There is also what is known as Bara, or ‘Men’s Love’, a genre which focuses on older, more passionate gay relationships. Bara is typically seen as being more authentic and realistic than shonen-ai and shotacon since it is the only genre which realistically portrays long-term adult relationships; shotacon and shonen-ai rarely possess this level of realism.

Why Its Popular

Yaoi has become increasingly popular in the West over the last few years, thanks in part to anime series and movies based on yaoi works. The allure of yaoi lies in its depictions of characters in romantic relationships and the drama found within such stories. Fans often find fiction in the form of manga, anime and other media to be emotionally engaging and highly entertaining.

Unlike traditional heteronormative fiction, yaoi often features same-sex relationships between characters which are commonly accepted, demonstrated and even celebrated by the majority of its viewers. This is especially appealing to members of the LGBTQ community who might not be fully accepted by mainstream society, yet feel taken in and accepted by the yaoi fandom.

Conclusion

Yaoi is an important part of the anime, manga and art culture. It has expanded in its popularity to countries all around the world. For many, it provides a unique view into a fictional world where same-sex couples can exist without judgement, and provides a safe space away from social stigma. In that way, it has become a welcomed form of escapism. There’s no doubt that Yaoi will continue to grow in popularity and diversity, as more works are created and embraced by a larger audience.